Lakers men hit the ice for fall camp

Lakers men hit the ice for fall camp

Lakers camp
Dylan Staples, of Callander, and his Nipissing Lakers men's hockey team began its fall camp Friday and will have practice and scrimmages through the weekend. After a second session Friday 3 to 5 p.m., they're on the ice 10 a.m. to 12 noon Saturday and noon to 2 p.m. Sunday. Nugget File Photo

The Nipissing Lakers men’s hockey team is on the ice at Memorial Gardens today and through the weekend as it gears up for the 2018-19 season.

After a second session Friday 3 to 5 p.m., they’re on the ice 10 a.m. to 12 noon Saturday and noon to 2 p.m. Sunday.

The Lakers open the season at the Gardens Oct. 6 against the UOIT Ridgebacks.

The Lakers are excited and proud to announce they have signed defenceman Kylor Wall, who makes his way to Nipissing from the Okotoks Oilers of the AJHL.

Wall finished up his junior career with the Oilers, after playing three seasons with the Calgary Mustangs.

“My family and I are very excited for the opportunity to join the Lakers hockey family and I think Nipissing is a great next step for my career,” Wall said.

The 6-foot-2, 209-pound native of Edmonton, AB had his best junior season in ’17-18, posting 33 points in 46 games helping the Oilers to a league-best 106-point season

Overall, Wall played 207 games in the AJHL, posting 77 points and another five points in 15 playoff games.

The smooth skating defenceman believes his time in the ‘AJ’ has prepared him for the OUA/USports level and he’s excited about the opportunity.

“I consider myself a two way defensemen who can skate well and has a good shot from the point,” he said. “I’ve played in the AJHL for the last four years and have put in over 200 games in a very developmentally focused league. For my final year of junior I had the opportunity to play on the Number 1 ranked junior ‘A’ team in Canada and it helped grow as a player and as a person preparing me for the university jump.”

For Lakers head coach Mike McParland, creating a strong five-man unit in all situations is key and he is confident in the upgrades they have made in their recruiting this off-season.

“I believe we have really upgraded our defense for this coming season. We have added defensemen that have all been able to put up good numbers. We are counting on them to be involved in the rush creating offense,” he said. “Kylor is no exception. He is a good size d-man that we are excited about having. He is someone that should be able to play comfortably in both ends of the ice.”

Wall will be enrolling business at Nipissing and is looking forward to making the move to North Bay for both hockey and school.

“I hope to earn my spot on the back end and be a contributing factor for the team,” he said. “I chose Nipissing because my family and I feel that it is a great next step for my hockey career and my life. I look forward to experiencing North Bay.”